Look no further than this Crab Salad Recipe if you're in search of a light and refreshing summer dish. Made with imitation crab meat and a mayonnaise-based dressing, it's perfect for picnics and potlucks. It's also very easy to make, so you can whip it up quickly. For a fancier meal, take a look at this creamy crab pasta recipe!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
Crab salad is so fresh and summery tasting that you can't go wrong with making it for your family and friends. It's fast, easy, pretty, and flavorful. If you like these kinds of recipes, you'll probably also love this easy Shrimp Toast recipe.
Ingredients
Imitation Crab: You can certainly use real crab meat, but before you even think about doing so, I recommend taking a look at the Expert Tips section below. Crab sticks are much more affordable than crabmeat, and for this kind of recipe, will be perfectly fine.
Fruits and Vegetables: For this crab salad recipe, you're going to want shallots, green onions, and the juice of fresh lemon.
Seasonings, Spices, and Herbs: The seasonings, spices, and herbs are pretty simple for a great Crab Salad recipe. In fact, I say you don't want to overdo it. Let the crab flavor shine through. You'll want to grab some kosher salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and fresh dill.
Crab Salad Dressing: For the crab salad dressing base, you'll need mayonnaise, stone ground mustard, and sour cream. I'm sure you already have these ingredients.
See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Dice the imitation crab. I find that it's easiest in a hand-powered food processor. Add the pieces and give them a few good spins until you achieve your desired texture.
Next, dice up the shallots and green onions. You can do this using the same hand-powered food processor.
Add the imitation crab, shallots, and green onions to a large mixing bowl.
Step 2: Whisk together the mayonnaise, stone-ground mustard, sour cream, fresh dill, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper in a separate bowl.
Step 3: Lastly, pour the crab salad dressing over the imitation crab and veggie mixture and gently stir to combine all ingredients.
I recommend covering and refrigerating for at least 2 hours before serving. This will allow everything to get cold again and give the flavors time to meld.
Expert Tips
- The only reason I would ever personally use imitation crab is due to availability and price. Also, when I went to our local grocery store and weighed my options, I looked at a small can of crab for $40 and a package of imitation crab for less than $10. Price and availability won!
- This salad is perfect for a sandwich, specifically on a croissant with fresh lettuce and sliced tomato.
- Try serving this crab salad recipe on salads. That could be any salad with an array of different greens and toppings. Make your salad and top it off with a generous scoop of this summertime classic.
- If you plan on having a party or attending one, this must be in your top five go-to recipes. It's colorful, flavorful, and versatile. Pair your crab salad with an array of crackers, and you've got an entire platter for everyone to hover over.
Recipe FAQs
Imitation crab, also known as crab stick, is made from fish paste called surimi, which is made from white fish such as pollock or tilapia combined with salt egg whites and other ingredients used as a binder. It is then shaped and flavored to resemble crab meat. It is often used in sushi or crab salad and can be found in most grocery stores.
Crab salad contains either fresh crab meat or imitation crab mixed with a mayonnaise-based dressing and herbs and spices for added flavor.
Crab salad makes an excellent sandwich with freshly sliced tomato served on a croissant. It's also perfect as a dip with assorted crackers or a spread on toast.
Imitation crab salad is made with imitation crab and a mayonnaise-based dressing combined with assorted veggies, herbs, and spices for added flavor and texture.
Yes, imitation crab salad is excellent and has a great flavor, similar to real crab. The best part is that it's a fraction of the price compared to canned or fresh crab.
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📖 Recipe
Crab Salad Recipe: A Light and Refreshing Summer Dish
Ingredients
- 1 lb Imitation Crab - diced
- 1 Shallot - diced
- 3-4 Green Onions - sliced
- Juice of Half a Lemon
- ½ teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ½ teaspoon Black Pepper
- ½ tsp. Smoked Paprika
- ½ Tbsp. Fresh Dill - diced
- ½ Cup Mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Stone Ground Mustard
- ¼ Cup Sour Cream
Instructions
- Start by dicing up the imitation crab. I find that it's easiest in a hand-powered food processor. Simply add the pieces and give it a few good spins until your desired texture.
- Next, dice up the shallots and green onions. You can obviously do this using the exact same hand-powered food processor or with a sharp kitchen knife, whichever you prefer.
- Add the imitation crab along with the shallots and green onions to a large mixing bowl.
- In a separate bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, stone ground mustard, sour cream, fresh dill, smoked paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper.
- Lastly, pour the crab salad dressing over the imitation crab and veggie mixture and gently stir to combine all of the ingredients.
- Refrigerate for at least 2 hours before serving. This will not only allow everything to get cold again but will give the flavors time to meld.
Video
Notes
- Imitation crab is much more cost-effective than the real thing. when I went to our local grocery store and weighed my options, I looked at a small can of crab for $40 and a package of imitation crab for less than $10. Price and availability won!
- This crab salad is perfect for a sandwich, specifically on a croissant with fresh lettuce and sliced tomato.
- Try serving this crab salad recipe on salads. That could be any salad with an array of different greens and toppings. Make your salad and top it off with a generous scoop of this summertime classic.
- If you plan on having a party or attending one, this must be in your top five go-to recipes. It's colorful, flavorful, and versatile. Pair your crab salad with an array of crackers, and you've got an entire platter for everyone to hover over.
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